Why Lily didn't have to die.

[bjebenstreit at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 137678

Sherry wrote:

My big problem with the whole idea  of lily and Snape ever having 
dated is
the worst memory scene. He called  her a mudblood in fifth year. We 
are
given to understand that the word  "mudblood" is a filthy word. I 
equate it
to being as horrible as the word  "nigger" from a white person to a 
black
person. I can't imagine anyone  being called that one year and then 
dating
that same person the next  year. I know it's one thing that could 
explain
Voldemort offering to let  lily live, but I just can't believe she'd 
go out
with someone who called  her that. I sure hope the whole why save 
lily issue
is resolved in the  last book.

Cheryl:

I agree with your conception of the word  mudblood:  in the WW, it is 
a horrible, racist word.  However, I  think that there may be a 
chance that they were friends (see my prior posts  about whether it 
was possible they were childhood friends) or slightly more  at some 
point before this incident.  I think Lily's reaction to being  
called "mudblood" may have been similar to Harry's reaction to 
learning  what the Sectumsempra spell really did: "He felt stunned; 
it was as though a  beloved pet had turned suddenly savage."  When 
Snape calls here this,  her reaction almost seems like surprise to 
me, a fitting reaction if Snape  is someone who had been a friend in 
the past.


Ethanol:
 
I think it is possible that Lily and Snape became friends *after* this  
incident.
 
The pensieve scene happened at the end of the fifth year, before students 
decided on their N.E.W.T. courses. From what we've seen, we can tell  that
Lily was neither close to James nor Snape. 

We don't know if James  took N.E.W.T. level potions or not. He'd have to, if 
he 
wanted to become an auror, but we don't know if he was one. We know
for certain that Snape and Lily took N.E.W.T. level potions, so at least  
those
two worked in a small group (N.E.W.T. level potions didn't struck me as  
crowded),
possibly the three, if James did take part in it.
 
So working two years together on a subject they both liked *had* to  change
the Snape/Lily relationship in some way. Maybe not dating, but possibly 
friendship or at least respect.
 
If I had to bet my money, I'd say that Snape was in love with Lily, but  
didn't act
on it. Possibly because James's rescue of Snape redeemed James in Lily's 
eyes enough to reconsider him and notch him up to boyfriend material.
 
Now the standing complaint against this scenario is Snape calling  Lily
"mudblood" in the pensieve scene. Would he call that somebody he  secretely
loved? Maybe not - but that isn't my point.
 
Could he fall in love - or maybe "only" become friends with her after this  
insult?
Yes, I think so - *that* is my point.
 
Pity is I don't have more cannon for this. Not a direct one at least.  
However, we've
only ever seen Snape hark on James, never ever on Lily. During his  potion's
classes with Harry, he never, ever abused her name and he certainly had  
enough
oportunity to put Harry's supposed inabilities in potions down on Lily  being 
a
mudblood.
 
And here is another point: Rowling at least thinks it is possible to fall  in 
love with somebody 
you've insulted and hurt and have this someone return these feelings. Who?  
Ron and
Hermione!
 
Compare page 187 of PS (UK edition):
 
"It's no wonder no one can stand her," he said to Harry as they pushed  their 
way into the 
crowded corridor. "She's a nightmare, honestly."
Someone knocked into Harry as they hurried past them. It was Hermione.  Harry 
caught a 
glance of her face - and was startled to see she was in tears. 
"I think  she heard you."
"So?" said Ron, but he looked a bit uncomfortable. "She must've noticed  
she's got 
no friends."

Uhmmm... that is the girl whose name Ron says in his  sleep, after he nearly 
died
in HPB. Yes, admittedly it was not a no-no word like "mudblood", but he did  
hurt her
badly. 
 
I wonder - what would Ron's worst memory be? I wonder, if the scene in the  
pensieve
is Snape's worst memory not because he was ridiculed by James. But  because
in his fury, he struck out at Lily - somebody he came to value later, if  too 
late.
 
What do you think?
 
Greetings,
Ethanol


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